Delivered to the ISS and installed the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module Pressurized Module (JEM-PM) and the Japanese Remote Manipulator System (JEM RMS). Prior to the Columbia disaster the mission was scheduled for February 2005 as STS-125, although no crew had been named at that time.

Discovery delivered to the International Space Station the Kibo Pressurized Module, the primary element of the Japanese portion of the station.
Half an earth away from jettison of external tank ET-128, a 76 m/s OMS-2 burn at 21:40 GMT put the Shuttle in its low-altitude chase orbit. Discovery docked at the PMA-2 port of the station at 18:03 GMT on 2 June. Using the shuttle and station's robotic arms, with assistance from spacewalking astronauts, the Kibo module was attached to the station's Harmony module at 23:01 GMT on 4 June. The previously-delivered Japanese Logistics Module was transferred from Harmony to Kibo on 6 June at 20:04 GMT. The Shuttle undocked from the station on 11 June at GMT and landed on 14 June at 15:15 GMT at the Kennedy Space Center.

Today is February's fifth Friday, because of its 29 Leap Year days; the last time February had 5 Fridays was in 1980 and next time will be in 2036.

Before breakfast and exercise, FE-2 Eyharts performed his first PHS (Periodic Health Status) w/Blood Labs examination. CDR Whitson assisted in drawing blood and using the U.S. PCBA(Portable Clinical Blood Analyzer). The second part of PHS, Subjective Clinical Evaluation, was performed later in the day. (The PHS exam, with PCBA analysis and clinical evaluation, is guided by special software (IFEP, In-Flight Examination Program) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer). While PCBA analyzes total blood composition, the blood's hematocrit is particularly measured by the Russian MO-10 protocol.) Additional Details: here....

In the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), FE-2 Leo Eyharts had an hour allotted to perform troubleshooting on a structural element which earlier (2/17) had prevented installation of a K-BAR (Knee-Brace Assembly Replacement) capture mechanism on the overhead F2 rack, as required for relocating of the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) and EXPRESS Rack 3 (ER3).

(Today's troubleshooting dealt with repair and cleaning of a threaded hole on a standoff element for the right K-BAR capture fitting. The FE-2 used a vacuum cleaner to remove FOD (Foreign Object Debris) plus safety goggles, rubber gloves and a surgical mask for his protection.)

In the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), FE-2 Leo Eyharts had an hour allotted to perform troubleshooting on a structural element which earlier (2/17) had prevented installation of a K-BAR (Knee-Brace Assembly Replacement) capture mechanism on the overhead F2 rack, as required for relocating of the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) and EXPRESS Rack 3 (ER3).

(Today's troubleshooting dealt with repair and cleaning of a threaded hole on a standoff element for the right K-BAR capture fitting. The FE-2 used a vacuum cleaner to remove FOD (Foreign Object Debris) plus safety goggles, rubber gloves and a surgical mask for his protection.)

Ahead: Week 23 of Increment 16. HAPPY EASTER! Congratulations, Shuttle & ISS crews: Five EVAs in a row, all successful. What a great Easter gift!

>>>>Today at ~7:43am EDT, the ISS, specifically its FGB module, completed 53,500 orbits of the Earth, having covered a distance of 2.25 billion kilometers (1.4 billion st.miles) in 3411 days. The 19,300 kg (42,600 lbs) Zarya ('Dawn') was launched on a Russian/Khrunichev Proton from Baikonur over nine years ago (11/20/1998) as the first element of the multi-national space station.<<<< Additional Details: here....

STS-123/Endeavour returned to Earth last night after 15d 18h 11m in space, the longest Shuttle mission to ISS so far, touching down at KSC on the second opportunity at 8:39pm EDT, after 250 orbits & 6.6 million miles (first opportunity waived off due to cloud layer). (During the perfectly executed ISS 1J/AE mission, its seven-member crew conducted a record five EVAs, delivered & installed the JAXA JLP (Japanese Experiment Module Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section) and the Canadian SPDM Dextre, brought up new Expedition 16 crewmember Garrett Reisman and returned his predecessor Leopold Eyharts who spent 48 days in space (44 aboard the station). It was the 122nd flight of a Space Shuttle, the 25th Shuttle mission to visit the station, the 21st for Endeavour and the second of six Shuttle missions planned for 2008. Next up: STS-124/Discovery/1J on 5/25 with JAXA's JEM Pressurized Module 'Kibo', racks & the JEM RMS.) Additional Details: here....

SM hooks were closed at 10:56am. The docking was essentially a repeat of Demo Day 2 except for the final approach from S41 (~12m) to Contact and Hooks Closed. (The 19-ton unmanned ATV maneuvered from a holding position 39 km behind the ISS and conducted a 4-hour staged approach with several stops at reference points for checks. It autonomously computed its own position through relative GPS (Global Positioning System) data, comparing with GPS data received from ISS, and in close range it used VDM (Videometer) lasers pointed at LRRs (Laser Retroreflektors) on the SM for distance & orientation determination relative to its target. Final approach was at a relative velocity of 7 cm/s and with an accuracy of better than 10 cm. The cargo transport, which remains docked for the next four months, is delivering 1,150 kg of dry cargo, including food, clothes and equipment as well as two original manuscripts handwritten by Jules Verne and a 19th Century illustrated edition of his novel 'From the Earth to the Moon'. The cargo also includes 856 kg of propellant, 270 kg of drinking water and 21 kg of oxygen, to be transferred to the SM.) Additional Details: here....

(FD1 activities yesterday included the first two maneuver burns, DV1 (10:57am) & DV2 (11:50am), both with the SKD main engine. FD2 activities, started yesterday afternoon with Soyuz crew wakeup at ~4:05pm on Orbit 12, include systems & crew health status reports to TsUP, preparation of the Soyuz Habitation Module (SA) workspace, building attitude for and executing the DV3 burn, placing Soyuz back in its sun-spinning "barbecue" mode (ISK), and swapping CO2 absorption cartridges (LiOH) in the BO. Afterwards, the crewmembers will put on their Sokol suits and PKO biomed harnesses, transfer to the SA, activate its air purification system (SOA) and close the hatch to the Descent Module (BO). After activation of the active Kurs-A system on Soyuz and of the passive Kurs-P on the Service Module (SM), with a short Kurs-A/P test and several additional adjustment burns during automated rendezvous, station fly-around to align with the DC1 Docking Compartment will begin tomorrow at ~8:37am at ~400m range, followed by station keeping at ~160m (~8:46am) and docking at the DC1 port at ~9:02am. Volkov & Kononenko will replace Expedition 16 CDR Whitson & FE-1 Malenchenko. FE-2 Dr. Garrett Reisman remains on the station, joining Expedition 17 until early June when he is replaced by U.S. Astronaut Gregory E. Chamitoff on STS-124/1J. So-Yeon Yi, the 30-year old biotechnologist student from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology) and South Korea's first astronaut, will return with Peggy & Yuri on 4/19 in Soyuz TMA-11/15S.) Additional Details: here....

The ISS crew's work/sleep cycle shifted this morning, from wakeup at 2:00am to 5:00am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 9:30pm, from 5:30pm).

Work period will shift again tomorrow (6:20am -5:50pm) and on 4/12 (2:10am -5:40pm).

Yest kasaniya! Soyuz TMA-12/16S docked smoothly at the DC1 port at 8:57am EDT, five minutes ahead of time, with Expedition 17 crewmembers CDR Sergei Volkov and FE-1 Oleg Kononenko, plus Korean SFP (Spaceflight Participant) So-Yeon Yi, 14th Visiting Crewmember (VC). After about 1.5 hrs spent in Soyuz on pre-transfer activities, the crew opened hatches, followed by crew transfer, the traditional joyful welcome event and the installation of the BZV QD (quick disconnect) clamps by Volkov and Kononenko at ~12:10pm. (After successful "kasaniya" (contact), automatic "sborka" (closing of Soyuz & DC1 port hooks & latches) took place shortly thereafter (~9:07am) while ISS was in free drift. Attitude control authority had been handed over to the Russian MCS (Motion Control System) at ~5:25am and was returned to US CMG control at ~10:05am. For the 16S docking, Russian thrusters were disabled during Soyuz volume pressurization and clamp installation; they were afterwards returned to active attitude control (~12:30pm). Before hatch opening, the crew performed leak checks of the Soyuz modules and the Soyuz/ISS interface vestibule. They then doffed their Sokol suits and set them up for drying (~1:05pm), deactivated the Atmosphere Purification Unit (BOA) in the Descent Module (SA), replaced the Soyuz ECLSS LiOH cartridges, equalized Soyuz/ISS pressures, and put the spacecraft into conservation mode on ISS integrated power.) Additional Details: here....

The crew's work/sleep cycle again was adjusted slightly, from yesterday's wakeup at 2:20am to 2:10am EDT (sleeptime tonight at 5:40pm). Tomorrow, work period will be adjusted by 5 min (to 2:15am -5:45pm).

Aboard ISS, the E16/E17 crew rotation/handover period went underway with full activity schedules for all six residents involved. Whitson, Volkov, Malenchenko and Kononenko had several hours crewtime between them for dedicated CDR/CDR & FE/FE handover activities. In addition, there are 'generic' handovers where crewmembers are scheduled together to complete various designated standard tasks. Additional Details: here....

Day 190 in space for Peggy & Yuri.Yesterday, Peggy Whitson set a new US endurance record of 374 days for the longest cumulative time spent in space, held before by Mike Foale (heading the list: Sergei Krikalev with 803 days).

With undocking time on 4/19 approaching, the ISS crew went on an irregular sleep/wake cycle:

FE-2 Reisman continued his support of the experiment CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2) in the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), today concluding the processing of SPU-8 (Sample Processing Unit 8), transferring the data from the ECU (Electronics Control Unit) to the MSG laptop, then removing SPU-8 from the WV (Work Volume) and installing SPU-7 for the next run.

MSG was later powered down from its A31p laptop (~8:30am EDT). (CSLM-2 examines the kinetics (e.g., growth rate) of 'competing' particles within a liquid matrix. During this process, small particles shrink by giving up atoms to larger particles, causing the larger particles of tin, suspended in a liquid comprised of molten lead/tin alloy ('matrix'), to grow in size ('coarsen'). This study defines the mechanisms and rates of coarsening that govern the manufacture with metals from turbine blades to dental amalgam fillings.) Additional Details: here....

Later Reisman continued his support of the CSLM-2 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures 2) experiment in the activated MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) facility, initiating another evacuation sequence in preparation for final experiment operations scheduled Wednesday (4/30). (Evacuation activities consisted in closing vacuum vent valves, checking for acceptable humidity levels, and opening the SPU (Sample Processing Unit) water valve to initiate unattended vacuum prep, followed later by closing the SPU water valve, checking again for humidity levels in the sample chamber, and opening the vent valve and vacuum valve to initiate a vacuum draw on the sample chamber. The steps were later repeated for another SPU. CSLM-2 examines the kinetics of competitive particle growth within a liquid matrix. During this process, small particles shrink by losing atoms to larger particles, causing the larger particles to grow (coarsen) within a liquid lead/tin matrix. This study defined the mechanisms and rates of coarsening that govern the manufacture with metals from turbine blades to dental amalgam fillings.) Additional Details: here....

Upon wake-up, FE-1 Kononenko terminated his first MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session, started last night, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground.

At ~5:20pm EDT, just before sleep time, CDR Volkov will start his first overnight MBI-12 session. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

Upon wake-up, CDR Volkov terminated his first MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session, started last night, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

FE-1 Oleg Kononenko serviced the Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System), starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #2 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated tonight at ~5:15pm EDT. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. Filter bed 1 was regenerated yesterday. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after last Tuesday's (4/29) Freon-218 spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.) Additional Details: here....

>>>Today 47 years ago (1961), the first U.S. Astronaut, Navy Commander Alan 'Big Al' Shepard Jr., launched into a suborbital flight of 15 minutes duration, reaching an altitude of 116 miles. This restored faith in the U.S. space program only 23 days after the Soviet space program launched Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into orbit around the planet.<<<

FE-2 Reisman supported the Japanese CW/RW (Cell Wall/Resist Wall) experiment in the MSG EMCS (Microgravity Science Glovebox/European Modular Cultivation System), removing and relocating EC1 (Experiment Container 1) and EC2 on Rotor A and Rotor B. (CW/RW operates in the EMCS facility in eight special ECs (Experiment Containers) which Garrett recently (3/30) installed on the centrifuges of the facility. The EMCS rack contains two rotating centrifuges, Rotor A & Rotor B, which can support a wide range of small plant & animal experiments under partial gravity conditions.) Additional Details: here....

Using the RSE1 laptop, CDR Volkov and FE-1 Kononenko spent three more hours on their test program with the new KPT-2 BAR-RM payload equipment begun yesterday.

(Today's measurements were taken with the AU-1, Kelvin-Video, Iva-6A & TTM-2 instruments near welds along SM (Service Module) structural rings and near the shell ring in the FGB for subsequent downlinking via BSR-TM channel. At the FGB pressurized shell ring, the two cosmonauts also inspected structural elements, equipment, and cable bundles for moisture, mold, or evidence of corrosion. The BAR-RM data are being used for experimenting with ISS leak detection based on environmental data anomalies (temperature, humidity, and ultrasound emissions) at possible leak locations, in order to develop a procedure for detecting air leakage from ISS modules. The payload uses a remote infrared thermometer (Kelvin-Video), a thermohygrometer (Iva-6A), a heat-loss anemometer/thermometer (TTM-2), an ultrasound analyzer (AU-1), and a leak detector (UT2-03) to determine physical background signs of loss of ISS pressure integrity which could be indicative of leaks in the working compartments of the station. Measurements are taken in specific zones in SM PkhO, FGB and DC1, both with lights, fans & ASU pump turned on and off.) Additional Details: here....

The regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~4:55pm EDT. Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after the Freon-218 (Khladon) spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner on 4/24, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.)

CDR Volkov continued the current outfitting of the FGB with new stowage enclosures delivered by the ATV1 (Automated Transfer Vehicle 1), built in Russia to provide more efficient stowage spaces behind FGB panels and improve airflow/circulation. (Today's outfitting involved two more containers transferred in pieces from ATV stowage and their installation in the FGB zones 26 (panel 416) & 23B (panel 414), with bonding straps used for 23B.) Additional Details: here....

From the US voluntary 'job jar' task list, after wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Reisman downloaded the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data from his Actiwatch to the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) laptop. (To monitor his sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Garrett wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout this week, for the last time. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.) Additional Details: here....

From the US voluntary 'job jar' task list, after wakeup and before breakfast, FE-2 Reisman downloaded the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data from his Actiwatch to the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) laptop.

(To monitor his sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, Garrett wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout this week, for the last time. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.)

CDR Volkov completed the periodic servicing of the active Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System) by starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #1 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~5:15pm EDT. Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after the Freon-218 (Khladon) spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner on 4/24, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.) Additional Details: here....

Progress M-64/29P launched nominally yesterday at Baikonur at 4:22:56pm EDT, when ISS was leading with 152 deg phase angle.

Ascent was nominal, all appendages (antennae & solar arrays) deployed nominally, and the vehicle reached orbital insertion at 4:31:41pm. Corrective maneuvers DV1 & DV2 were conducted as per plan at 8:12:27pm (delta-V 22.62 m/s) and 8:50:36pm (23.71 m/s). 29P is scheduled to dock to the ISS FGB nadir port tomorrow evening (5/16) at 5:37pm. Congratulations, Baikonur! (The cargo ship will deliver more than 2.3 tons of various supplies to the ISS, including oxygen, water and food supplies, propellant, a new Sokol KV-2 spacesuit, consumables, scientific hardware and equipment. The spacecraft was injected into a reference near-earth elliptical orbit with 51.65 ° inclination, min/max altitudes of 193.9/245.9 km and 88.57 min revolution. Onboard systems are operating as designed as the 'chase' is on.) Additional Details: here....

Due to last night's extended duty after the Progress 29P arrival (5:39pm EDT), the crew had an additional 3.5 hrs sleep time this morning, i.e., wakeup - 5:30am EDT; sleep time tonight is back at the regular 5:30pm.

For the ongoing US Sleep study, currently on his voluntary 'job jar' task list, FE-2 Garrett Reisman downloaded the SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment data after wakeup and before breakfast from his Actiwatch to the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) laptop. (To monitor his sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, the Flight Engineer wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him as well as his patterns of sleep and activity throughout this week, for the last time. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.) Additional Details: here....

Later, Reisman used the G1 video camcorder to take documentary footage of the EVA tools in their final configuration and the current state of the A/L, including mini workstations and contents of the ORU bags to be used, for review by EVA specialists on the ground.

With the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) powered up and the VDS (Video Distribution Subsystem) configured by ground commanding, the FE-2 conducted the pre-launch checkout of the RWS (Robotics Workstations). Additional Details: here....

The regen process will be terminated before sleeptime, at ~5:15pm EDT. Regeneration of bed #2 follows tomorrow. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods. In order to assist in atmosphere scrubbing after the Freon-218 (Khladon) spill from the SKV-2 air conditioner on 4/24, the BMP's regeneration cycle was moded to 5 days instead of the regular 20 days.)

Before breakfast, CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Reisman began their workday with the periodic session of the Russian biomedical routine assessments PZEh-MO-7/Calf Volume Measurement and PZEh-MO-8/Body Mass Measurement (second for CDR and FE-1, third for FE-2), using the IM mass measurement device which Oleg Kononenko afterwards broke down for stowage.

(Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM "scales" measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember's mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.) Additional Details: here....

The CDR conducted the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM, including the weekly collection of the toilet flush (SP) counter and water supply (SVO) readings for calldown to TsUP. (Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists, among else, of checking the ASU toilet facilities, replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers and replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers.)

Sergey also gathered weekly data on Total Operating Time & 'On' durations of the Russian POTOK-150MK (150 micron) air filter unit of the SM's SOGS air revitalization subsystem for reporting to TsUP. Additional Details: here....

FE-2 Garrett Reisman worked on the EDR (European Drawer Rack) in the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), installing a restraint on the EDR seat track for the PCDF EU (Protein Crystallization Diagnostic Facility Electronic Unit). Later, the PCDF EU was activated by the ground with crew support.

In preparation for the subsequent VSPLESK installation (which required turning off the BITS2-12 Onboard Telemetry Measurement System), FE-1 Kononenko supported TsUP-Moscow in deactivating the Elektron O2 generator. As part of the standard deactivation process the Elektron was purged with N2 (nitrogen), controlled from laptop. (Elektron will be reactivated on 5/29.) Additional Details: here....

For the long-term Russian sleep study, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko terminated his third MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session upon wake-up by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground.

CDR Sergey Volkov in turn will start his third overnight MBI-12 session tonight. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

Upon wake-up, CDR Sergey Volkov terminated his third MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session for the long-term Russian sleep study, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground.

(SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

FE-2 Reisman conducted 'Week 6' sampling of potable water for chemical and microbial analysis from the SVO-ZV tap and two SRV-K taps, the latter after preliminary heating of the water (four heating cycles) and flushing.

(Garrett collected three 450 mL samples (for postflight microbial analysis) and two 750 mL samples (for postflight chemical analysis) from each of three ports (SRV-K hot, SRV-K warm, SVO-ZV) for return on STS-124/1J. The small amounts of water used for flushing the equipment were later reclaimed from the flush bag.)

CDR Volkov serviced the Russian BMP (Harmful Impurities Removal System), starting the "bake-out" cycle to vacuum on absorbent bed #2 of the regenerable dual-channel filtration system. The regen process will be terminated tonight at ~5:15pm EDT. Filter bed #1 was regenerated yesterday. (Regeneration of each of the two cartridges takes about 12 hours and is conducted only during crew awake periods.) Additional Details: here....

Saturday - a light-duty but long day for CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Reisman.

STS-124/Discovery (ISS-1J) lifted off right on time (5:02pm EDT) with all systems performing nominally, for ISS rendezvous on Monday (6/2), to dock at ~1:54pm EDT. At launch, the ISS was off Halifax/Canada, at 42.8 deg N Lat, 57.6 deg W Long. The Orbiter is carrying the seven-member crew of CDR Mark Kelly, PLT Ken Ham, MS1 Karen Nyberg, MS2 Ron Garan, MS3 Mike Fossum, MS4 Akihiko Hoshide & MS5 Greg Chamitoff. Chamitoff will replace ISS Flight Engineer 2 Garrett Reisman who returns on 6/14 (nominal) with STS-124. STS-124 is the 123rd space shuttle flight, the 35th flight for Discovery, the 26th flight to the station and the third Shuttle flight in 2008. Its primary payload, the largest so far, is the 32,000-lbs, 36.7-ft long JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module) with its RMS (Remote Manipulator System). We are off to another great mission! (The eighth crewmember on board is a stow-away: Buzz Lightyear.) Additional Details: here....

Discovery delivered to the International Space Station the Kibo Pressurized Module, the primary element of the Japanese portion of the station. Half an earth away from jettison of external tank ET-128, a 76 m/s OMS-2 burn at 21:40 GMT put the Shuttle in its low-altitude chase lorbit. Discovery docked at the PMA-2 port of the station at 18:03 GMT on 2 June. Using the shuttle and station's robotic arms, with assistance from spacewalking astronauts, the Kibo module was attached to the station's Harmony module at 23:01 GMT on 4 June. The previously-delivered Japanese Logistics Module was transferred from Harmony to Kibo on 6 June at 20:04 GMT. The Shuttle undocked from the station on 11 June at GMT and landed on 14 June at 15:15 GMT at the Kennedy Space Center.

Aboard ISS, the shifted wake/sleep cycle began this morning at 6:32am EDT, with sleep time tonight at 10:02pm. (Setting the crew up for tomorrow's docking.)

STS-124/Discovery (ISS-1J) continues its catch-up flight for the FD3 docking at ~1:54pm, to begin ISS Stage 1J. (Catch-up rate ~480 nmi. per revolution of ~91.5 min.). (Hatch opening expected at ~3:10pm, followed by Safety Briefing (~4:02pm), Soyuz seat liner transfer (for the Reisman/Chamitoff exchange), and preparations for the first spacewalk, EVA-1, by EV1 Fossum & EV2 Garan on 6/3, preceded by their overnight Campout tomorrow night in the Airlock (A/L) for denitrogenation/pre-breathe. Objectives of the nominal 14-day mission: Delivering & installing the JAXA Kibo laboratory, delivering new ISS-17 crewmember Greg Chamitoff, bringing Garrett Reisman back home and conducting a total of three EVAs. Landing will nominally be at KSC on FD15 (6/14) at ~11:02am EDT. OMS Anomaly: During ascent, the left OMS (Orbital Maneuvering System) secondary TVC (Thrust Vector Control) positions failed to null in both pitch and yaw, most likely due to a failure in its (independent) power supply. Left OMS is now parked, aligned through EOM CG (End-of-Mission Center-of-Gravity). Remaining on-orbit OMS burns will be single-engine using right OMS only. The deorbit burn will be dual-engine using the (active) primary TVC of the left OMS.) Additional Details: here....

STS-124 MCC Status Report #03 - .
Nation: USA.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-124.
The crew members of shuttle Discovery moved swiftly through activities during their first full day in space. They inspected the orbiter’s heat shield, prepared for arrival at the International Space Station and readied their spacesuits. .
Additional Details: here....

2008 June 1 - .

STS-124 MCC Status Report #02 - .
Nation: USA.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-124.
The seven members of shuttle Discovery began their first full day in space this morning, waking up to “Your Wildest Dreams” by the Moody Blues. The song was played for Pilot Ken Ham. .
Additional Details: here....

STS-124 MCC Status Report #04 - .
Nation: USA.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-124.
The massive Kibo laboratory is one step closer to its final destination as the shuttle Discovery is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station at 12:54 p.m. CDT today..
Additional Details: here....

released an SRMS (Shuttle Remote Manipulator System) elbow camera launch lock, supported the transfer of the OBSS (Orbiter Boom Sensor System) from ISS to Shuttle RMS (~1:45pm), checked out MCAS RTL (Mobile Servicing System Common Attach System/Ready-to-Latch) operation (in preparation for ULF-2), prepared Node-2 port ACBM (Active Common Berthing Mechanism) for the installation of the JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module) laboratory, opened Node-2 the nadir hatch window cover (in preparation for ULF-2), prepared the JPM for installation, i.e., disconnected/stowed an LTA (Launch-to-Activation) cable, removed Passive CBM contamination covers, and released the JPM forward window launch lock (~4:10pm) inspected the 'Datum A' surface of the Starboard SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint), performed a Stbd SARJ cleaning test using a scraper, wipes and a special grease, and re-installed the Stbd SARJ TBA-5 (Trundle Bearing Assembly #5) ~4:42pm. Official start time of the spacewalk was 12:22pm EDT, about 50 minutes behind the timeline (due to an issue with Fossum's 'Snoopy' comm cap), and it ended at 7:10pm. Total EVA duration (PET = Phase Elapsed Time) was 6h 48min. It was the 109th spacewalk for ISS assembly & maintenance and the 81st from the station (59 from Quest, 22 from Pirs, plus 28 from Shuttle) totaling 499h 35min, the first for Expedition 17 and the 10th so far this year. After today's EVA, a total of 139 spacewalkers (107 NASA astronauts, 21 Russians, and 11 astronauts representing Japan-1, Canada-4, France-1, Germany-2 and Sweden-3) have logged a total of 687h 57min outside the station on building, outfitting and servicing. It was the 131st spacewalk involving U.S. astronauts. Today was also the 43rd anniversary of the first US EVA, by Ed White on Gemini 4 (June 3, 1965).) Additional Details: here....

STS-124 - Wakeup Song: Hold Me with the Robot Arm - .
Flight: STS-124.
"Hold Me with the Robot Arm" performed by Yusuke Hanawa. The song was played for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide..

2008 June 3 - .

STS-124 MCC Status Report #07 - .
Nation: USA.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-124.
Closely choreographed spacewalking and robotics work led to the installation of a new, and the largest, laboratory on the International Space Station. .
Additional Details: here....

2008 June 3 - .

STS-124 MCC Status Report #06 - .
Nation: USA.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-124.
A busy day is ahead for the crews of shuttle Discovery and Expedition 17 aboard the International Space Station as they prepare to transfer the orbiter boom sensor system (OBSS) from the station to the shuttle as well as install the Kibo laboratory. .
Additional Details: here....

Arigato Gozaimasu! Congratulations, JAXA! There is Hope in space! At ~5:09pm EDT, the JPM (Japanese Pressurized Module) of the JEM 'Kibo' laboratory complex was opened and ingressed by Aki Hoshide and Karen Nyberg for the first time, joined later by the rest of the crew who clearly enjoyed the voluminous super laboratory. (Kibo is permanently attached at the Node-2 (Harmony) portside hatch since last night.)

FE-1 Oleg Kononenko performed the periodic (currently daily) checkout/verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS (Russian Segment) hatchways, including the DC1-to-Soyuz tunnel, and the FGB-to-Node passageway. (This is especially important when the ventilation/circulation system has to cope with a larger crew on board, currently ten persons, and one of the two Russian SKV air conditioners off (SKV-1).) Additional Details: here....

2008 June 4 - .

STS-124 - Wakeup Song: Have You Ever - .
Flight: STS-124.
"Have You Ever" performed by Brandi Carlile. The song was played for Mission Specialist Karen Nyberg..

Ever closer to its final configuration, the Japanese Kibo laboratory now has its storage module attached. The logistics module was repositioned from its temporary location atop Harmony, and now sits in its permanent location on top of the large laboratory. Additional Details: here....

2008 June 6 - .

STS-124 MCC Status Report #12 - .
Nation: USA.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-124.
The crews of Discovery and Expedition 17 will work today to relocate the Japanese Logistics Module (JLM) to its permanent home on top of the newly installed Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM) of the Kibo laboratory. .
Additional Details: here....

Before breakfast, FE-2 Reisman & FE-2-17 Chamitoff collected a 'wet' saliva sample (the third for Greg) for the biomed experiment INTEGRATED IMMUNE (Validating Procedures for Monitoring Crew member Immune Function). (IMMUNE protocol requires the collection to occur first thing post-sleep, before eating, drinking and brushing teeth, and all samples are stored at ambient temperature. Along with NUTRITION (Nutritional Status Assessment), INTEGRATED IMMUNE samples & analyzes participant's blood, urine, and saliva before, during and after flight for changes related to functions like bone metabolism, oxidative damage and immune function to develop and validate an immune monitoring strategy consistent with operational flight requirements and constraints. The strategy uses both long and short duration crewmembers as study subjects. The saliva is collected in two forms, dry and liquid. The dry samples are collected at intervals during the collection day using a specialized book that contains filter paper. The liquid saliva collections require that the crewmember soak a piece of cotton inside their mouth and place it in a salivette bag; there are four of the liquid collections during docked operations.) Additional Details: here....

STS-124 MCC Status Report #14 - .
Nation: USA.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-124.
The crew of Discovery began its eighth flight day this morning to the song “Taking Off.” It was performed by Godaigo and played for Mission Specialist Aki Hoshide. .
Additional Details: here....

For the biomed experiment INTEGRATED IMMUNE (Validating Procedures for Monitoring Crew member Immune Function), FE-2 Reisman collected a 'wet' saliva sample before breakfast while FE-2-17 Chamitoff collected his first dry saliva samples, five times during the day. (IMMUNE protocol requires the collection to occur first thing post-sleep, before eating, drinking and brushing teeth, and all samples are stored at ambient temperature. Along with NUTRITION (Nutritional Status Assessment), INTEGRATED IMMUNE samples & analyzes participant's blood, urine, and saliva before, during and after flight for changes related to functions like bone metabolism, oxidative damage and immune function to develop and validate an immune monitoring strategy consistent with operational flight requirements and constraints. The strategy uses both long and short duration crewmembers as study subjects. The saliva is collected in two forms, dry and liquid. The dry samples are collected at intervals during the collection day using a specialized book that contains filter paper. The liquid saliva collections require that the crewmember soak a piece of cotton inside their mouth and place it in a salivette bag; there are four of the liquid collections during docked operations.) Additional Details: here....

2008 June 9 - .

STS-124 - Wakeup Song: The Spirit of Aggieland - .
Flight: STS-124.
"The Spirit of Aggieland" performed by the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band was played for Mission Specialist Mike Fossum..

2008 June 9 - .

STS-124 MCC Status Report #19 - .
Nation: USA.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-124.
Discovery’s crew completed the major work on the Japanese Kibo laboratory that was planned for the STS-124 mission to the International Space Station..
Additional Details: here....

STS-124 - Wakeup Song: All Because of You - .
Flight: STS-124.
"All Because of You" by U2 was played for Mission Specialist Ron Garan..

2008 June 10 - .

STS-124 MCC Status Report #20 - .
Nation: USA.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-124.
The crew of Discovery has begun its last day of joint operations with the International Space Station..
Additional Details: here....

2008 June 10 - .

STS-124 MCC Status Report #21 - .
Nation: USA.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-124.
The crews of Discovery and the International Space Station bid one other farewell, closing the hatch between the two spacecraft at 3:42 p.m. .
Additional Details: here....

ISS crew wake-up shifted another 30 min. to the left (4:00am EDT), and CDR Sergey Volkov, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko and FE-2 Gregory (Taz) Chamitoff will go to bed two hours earlier tonight (~5:30pm) to move their circadian cycle back to the nominal schedule.

For the Russian Sleep study, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko terminated his fourth MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session upon wake-up by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. CDR Sergey Volkov in turn will start his fourth overnight MBI-12 data take tonight. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

STS-124 MCC Status Report #22 - .
Nation: USA.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-124.
The crew of Discovery is a few hours away from undocking after almost nine days at the International Space Station. .
Additional Details: here....

STS-124 MCC Status Report #25 - .
Nation: USA.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-124.
The crew of Discovery enjoyed some off-duty time 12 days into a busy mission to the International Space Station and turned its attention to returning to Earth Saturday. .
Additional Details: here....

STS-124/Discovery returned to Earth this morning after 13d 18h 13min in space, touching down at KSC on the first landing opportunity at 11:15am EDT, after 217 orbits & 5.7 million miles. (During the ISS 1J mission, executed with stellar perfection, its seven-member crew conducted three EVAs, delivered & installed the JEM (Japanese Experiment Module) Kibo with its RMS (Robotic Maneuvering System), brought up new Expedition 17 crewmember Gregory Chamitoff and returned his predecessor Garrett Reisman who spent 95d 8h 47m in space (with ~89d on board ISS). It was the 123rd flight of a Space Shuttle, the 26th Shuttle mission to visit the station, the 35th for Discovery and the 69th landing at KSC. Welcome back, Discovery! Next up: STS-125/Atlantis on 10/8, on Service Mission 4 (SM4) to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).) Additional Details: here....

2008 June 14 - .

STS-124 - Wakeup Song: Life on an Ocean Wave - .
Flight: STS-124.
"Life on an Ocean Wave" performed by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Band was played for Commander Mark Kelly and the entire crew..

CDR Volkov, FE-1 Kononenko and FE-2 Chamitoff began their workday before breakfast with the periodic session of the Russian biomedical routine assessments PZEh-MO-7/Calf Volume Measurement & PZEh-MO-8/Body Mass Measurement (fourth for CDR & FE-1, second for FE-2), using the IM mass measurement device which Sergey Volkov broke down afterwards for stowage. (Calf measurements (left leg only) are taken with the IZOG device, a custom-sewn fabric cuff that fits over the calf, using the knee and lower foot as fixed reference pints, to provide a rough index of deconditioning in zero-G and effectiveness of countermeasures. For determining body mass in zero-G, where things are weightless but not massless, the Russian IM "scales" measure the inertial forces that arise during the oscillatory motion of a mass driven by two helical metering springs with known spring constants. By measuring the time period of each oscillation of the unknown mass (the crewmember) and comparing it to the period of a known mass, the crewmember's mass is calculated by the computer and displayed.) Additional Details: here....

Crew sleep cycle shift: After wake-up at the regular 2:00am EDT this morning, the crew will begin their sleeptime at 2:30pm.

Three hours earlier than usual, followed by a late-night wakeup at 11:00pm, to adjust the planned Orlan-suited dry-run & Soyuz ingress training for live VHF telemetry/comm visibility over RGS (Russian Groundsites). Tomorrow's sleep period begins at 3:30pm and extends to the regular 2:00am on 6/27 (Friday). The crew will then have half the day off to recover from the sleep shift.

Upon wake-up, FE-1 Kononenko terminated his fifth MBI-12 SONOKARD experiment session, started last night, by taking the recording device from his SONOKARD sports shirt pocket and later copying the measurements to the RSE-MED laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground. (SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.) Additional Details: here....

Today at ~9:55am EDT, the ISS (specifically its FGB module) completed 55,000 orbits of the Earth, having covered a distance of 2.

2 billion kilometers (1.45 billion st.miles) in 3506 days. The 19,300 kg (42,600 lbs) Zarya ('Dawn') was launched on a Russian/Khrunichev Proton from Baikonur over 9.5 years ago (11/20/98) as the first element of the multi-national space station.<<<<

Crew activities focused on a thorough Orlan systems checkout and suited exercise in preparation for the EVA-20a on 7/10. The successful Orlan-suited dry run demonstrated that in the case of a contingency situation during the spacewalk, the crew would be able to ingress the Soyuz module while still in their Orlan suits. The activities were recorded on VTR (Video Tape Recorder) by camcorder equipment set up by FE-2 Chamitoff. (Plans for live TV downlink during the run had to be scrapped because a necessary drag-through cable could not be located in time.) Additional Details: here....